• Call for Papers: Digital Heroisms Special Issue

    August 18, 2020

    Following the success of the “Digital Heroisms” online conference, we’re excited to announce a call for papers for the Press Start special issue which explores fantasy, the digital, and the concept of heroism. The deadline for abstract submissions is October 1, 2020, with full papers for accepted abstracts due on January 1, 2021. See the full CFP for more information.

    Read more about Call for Papers: Digital Heroisms Special Issue

  • Digital Heroisms

    May 13, 2020

    Hello Digital Heroes!

    We are excited to announce the Digital Heroisms Conference, which will be held online on August 5th. The deadline for abstract submissions is July 8th and papers accepted to the conference can be submitted for potential publication in a special issue of Press Start. 

    Read more about Digital Heroisms

  • Rolling Submissions

    May 13, 2020

    The Editorial Board of Press Start Journal invites full paper submissions on an ongoing basis. Press Start is an open access peer-reviewed game studies journal that publishes work produced by current students and recent graduates working in research related to this broad field.

    Research articles are expected to be up to 8000 words including references and abstract, submitted in our template, and in APA style. Please see our About page for more information and submission guidelines and instructions. 

    Read more about Rolling Submissions

  • Press Start Journal: Open CfP July 2019

    July 1, 2019

    The Editorial Board of Press Start Journal invites submissions to our upcoming issue. Press Start is an open peer-reviewed game studies journal interested in the work produced by current students and recent graduates working in research related to this broad field.

    For our next issue we will be continuing our rolling (no deadlines) open call for submissions for full papers. Research articles are expected to be between 3000 and 5000 words in length, but there are opportunities for submitting shorter or longer pieces of work (up to 8000 words including references—note that submissions that are over 8000 words will not be considered).

    Read more about Press Start Journal: Open CfP July 2019

  • Call for 2019 Editors

    January 17, 2019

    Press Start Journal is looking for up to eight new volunteer Editorial Board members. Board members are expected to:

    • Guide submissions made to Press Start through the editorial process. This will involve:

      • Assigning appropriate reviewers

      • Following up with reviewers as required

      • Providing authors with the results of the review process, including a summary of reviewers’ comments

      • Following up with accepted authors from whom reviewers have requested revisions

      • Completing all of the above tasks in a timely fashion to ensure publication deadlines set by the Editor are met

    • Review submissions to Press Start when necessary

    • Answer queries from authors and prospective authors via the Press Start Facebook Group

    • Communicate with other board members about submissions and Press Start matters in a group chat (Facebook/Discord)

    • Take part in Editorial Board conference calls e.g. by Skype/Discord (every few months/ usually no more than four times per year)

    • Promote the journal online, at your local institution, and at relevant events

    • Potentially take part (either in person or online) in academic conference panels/workshops (no more than once a year, if decided as a board to submit)

    • Mentor new editorial board members

    Board members should possess good reading and writing skills (Press Start is published in English) and should be able to work independently and reliably to fulfill the duties outlined above in a timely manner.

    Please also note that since game studies is a multi-discipline which is enriched by various approaches, board members do not have to identify as game studies researchers.

    Eligibility criteria for appointment to the Board are identical to those that govern eligibility to publish in Press Start: Board members must be currently enrolled students, or be no more than one year post-graduation at time of appointment. Appointment to the Board is for at least one year (or the equivalent of at least two issues of the journal) in the first instance; however, we may ask eligible members to remain on the Board, to help ensure continuity and to facilitate knowledge sharing.

    To be considered for a Board position, please email the Editor Mahli-Ann Butt at mahli-ann.butt@sydney.edu.au with a short biographical statement (up to 100 words) and a short explanation of what you think Press Start Journal can do for early career researchers starting out in game studies (300 words). Specifically, outlining what you see as valuable or what makes a good review, as well as what you would like Press Start be able to do for students – including people of colour, non-male students, and second-language writers needing to publish in English. We encourage nominations, references, and letters of support from supervisors. You may also submit your CV along with your statement.

    Priority will be given to those who have previously reviewed for, or published with, Press Start. You can register as a reviewer here. We are aiming to have the new Board in place by April 2019. Please submit your statement and bio by March 1. If you have any queries, you can message our friendly Facebook group here, or please send Mahli-Ann an email at the above address. Do feel free to share this announcement.

    For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a paid appointment! It is a voluntary position, which provides excellent experience of working on an inclusive peer-reviewed publication, should look great on any CV or resume, and will help build our academic community of early career games researchers.

    Read more about Call for 2019 Editors

  • Open Call for Papers (December-January 2018/19)

    November 2, 2018
    The Editorial Board of Press Start Journal invites submissions to the upcoming issue (December-January 2018/19). We would be keen to have a quick turn around for this issue. Press Start is an open peer-reviewed game studies journal interested in the work produced by current students and recent graduates working in research related to this broad field. Research articles are expected to be between 3000 and 5000 words in length, but there are opportunities for submitting shorter or longer pieces of work. Press Start has rolling open submissions.
    Full details of the section policies, and the editorial process, may be found on the journal website: press-start.gla.ac.uk/index.php/press-start/about/submissions
    If you are unsure which section is the best fit for your work (or have any other queries), please post a question on the Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/PressStartJournal/), where a member of our friendly and knowledgeable Editorial Board will get back to you, or email the editor directly (mahli-ann.butt@sydney.edu.au).   As a student-run journal with an international editorial board, we encourage those who have English as their second language to also submit their work. The Editorial Board will, to the best of our capacity, help those submitting to meet the editorial guidelines for the journal and a good standard of academic English. 
    Please find and feel free to circulate this CfP with your networks, fellow colleagues and students. In the interest of encouraging multilingual scholars, we have translated our CfP into Spanish, PT-BR, Russian, Urdu, Greek, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Arabic, and German: tinyurl.com/yblfxkk4   We are always looking for more current student and recent graduate reviewers! Please feel free to register here if you are interested in reviewing for us: press-start.gla.ac.uk/index.php/press-start/user/register Read more about Open Call for Papers (December-January 2018/19)

  • Special Issue on Walking Simulators

    August 6, 2018

    Press Start is pleased to announce an upcoming special issue of the journal, and to invite submissions relating to the theme of 'Walking Simulators'.

    Approaches are welcomed from scholars and developers alike, tackling Walking Simulators from a variety of approaches. Broad themes to be addressed may include (but are by no means limited to):

    • Definitions and explorations
    • Critical reviews of individual titles
    • Storytelling in Walking Simulators
    • Queer approaches to making/studying
    • Promotion and Marketing  
    • Games criticism, gate-keeping, and boundary breaking
    • Representations of space, place and/or material culture
    • Representations of history in Walking Simulators
    • Player reception
    • Practice-based approaches to game-making
    • Platforms and technology

    Abstracts (max. 250 words) and brief author bios should be received by 17th September 2018. Authors will be notified ASAP after this closing date, with full papers (3000-6000 words) to be expected by 19th November 2018.

    Articles in Press Start are normally expected to be 3000-5000 words in length but, for this special issue, longer papers will be considered. It is expected that the special issue will be published in late 2018/early 2019. Informal enquiries may be directed to Esther Wright (E.Wright.2@warwick.ac.uk) and Emily Marlow (e.marlow@sheffield.ac.uk), or feel free to join our friendly Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/PressStartJournal/ and post your question there.

    Press Start is an open access, peer-reviewed student journal led and fed by students. Press Start publishes the best undergraduate and postgraduate research, essays and dissertations from across the multidisciplinary subject of Game Studies. The Editorial Board and Reviewers are comprised of students and recent graduates.

    Read more about Special Issue on Walking Simulators

  • Call for Editorial Board Members

    April 15, 2018
    Press Start is looking for up to six new volunteer Editorial Board members. Board members are expected to:

    • Guide submissions made to Press Start through the editorial process. This will involve:

      • Assigning appropriate reviewers

      • Following up with reviewers as required

      • Providing authors with the results of the review process, including a summary of reviewers’ comments

      • Following up with accepted authors from whom reviewers have requested revisions

      • Completing all of the above tasks in a timely fashion to ensure publication deadlines set by the Editor are met

    • Review submissions to Press Start when necessary

    • Answer queries from authors and prospective authors via the Press Start Facebook Group

    • Take part in Editorial Board conference calls e.g. by Skype (no more than twice per year)

    • Promote the journal online, at your local institution and at relevant events

    Board members should possess good reading and writing skills (Press Start is published in English) and should be able to work independently and reliably to fulfil the duties outlined above in a timely manner.

    Please also note that since game studies is a multi-discipline which is enriched by various approaches, board members do not have to identify as game studies researchers.

    Eligibility criteria for appointment to the Board are identical to those that govern eligibility to publish in Press Start: Board members must be currently enrolled students, or be no more than one year post-graduation at time of appointment. Appointment to the Board is for one year (or the equivalent of at least two issues of the journal) in the first instance; however, we  may ask eligible members to remain on the Board, to help ensure continuity and to facilitate knowledge sharing.

    To be considered for a Board position, please email the Editor Mahli-Ann Butt at mahli-ann.butt@sydney.edu.au with a short biographical statement (up to 100 words) and a short explanation of what you think Press Start Journal can do for early career researchers starting out in game studies (300 words). Specifically, outlining what you see as valuable or what makes a good review, as well as what you would like Press Start be able to do for students – including people of colour, non-male students, and second-language writers needing to publish in English.

    Priority will be given to those who have previously reviewed for, or published with, Press Start. We are aiming to have the new Board in place by 31 May 2018 so that work can begin on the next issue (due by December 2018). If you have any queries, please send Mahli-Ann an email at the above address, and do feel free to share this announcement.

    For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a paid appointment! It is a voluntary position, which provides excellent experience of working on an inclusive peer-reviewed publication, should look great on any CV or resume, and will help build our academic community of early career games researchers.

    Read more about Call for Editorial Board Members

  • Call for Papers: 'Negotiating Gamer Identities' Special Issue

    October 5, 2015
    The Press Start Journal invites the submission of analyses and reflections regarding the recent controversies surrounding the plurality of players, communities of play, and perceived gamer culture (in terms of gender, race, sexuality, class, #gamergate, etc.), as part of a special issue on negotiating gamer identities. Through this special issue, Press Start aims to allow undergraduate students, graduate students, and PhD candidates to contribute to this timely site of discourse. Read more about Call for Papers: 'Negotiating Gamer Identities' Special Issue